Marine boarding ladder

ABSTRACT

A marine ladder includes a base and a stair assembly connected to the base. The stair assembly includes four telescoping assemblies, each having an outermost member and one or more telescoping members telescopingly extendable therefrom. A step is connected between the respective outermost members of the four telescoping assemblies. Further steps are connected between respective telescoping members of the four telescoping assemblies.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/540,955, filed on Aug. 3, 2017,and incorporates by reference the disclosure thereof in its entirety.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is known to provide a boat with a boarding ladder to facilitateboarding the boat from within a body of water, for example, a lake orriver in which the boat is situated. Such a boarding ladder typically isexactly that—a ladder including a pair of elongated stringers or railsand a number of rungs fixedly connected therebetween.

A boarding ladder typically is connected to the deck of a pontoon boator the transom of a v-hulled boat. The ladder may be pivotably connectedto the boat between a deployed configuration in which one or more rungsare disposed below the water line to facilitate boarding, and a stowedconfiguration in which the ladder is completely out of the water tofacilitate operation of the boat while it is underway.

Although such boarding ladders offer convenience, they are not withoutcertain drawbacks. For example, such ladders often are lightweight andflimsy and do not inspire confidence in persons using them. Also, suchladders, when deployed, typically are oriented vertically. Thisorientation may make it difficult for certain persons to use theladders, and it generally renders the ladders unusable by dogs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a pontoon boat with atelescopingly retractable ladder attached thereto, the ladder in anextended state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the telescopingly retractable ladder ofFIG. 1 in the extended state;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladderof FIG. 1 in the extended state;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladderof FIG. 1 in the extended state;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the telescopingly retractable ladder ofFIG. 1 in a retracted state;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladderof FIG. 1 in the retracted state;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladderof FIG. 1 in the retracted state; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation cross-sectional detail view of thetelescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in the extended state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show an illustrative embodiment of a marine boarding ladder10 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows the ladder 10 in adeployed configuration, attached to a deck D of a pontoon boat B in anillustrative manner. FIGS. 2-8 show the ladder 10 in greater detail indeployed and stowed configurations.

The ladder 10 includes a telescoping stair assembly 12 connected to amounting base 14, first and second handrails 16A, 16B connected to thestair assembly and the mounting base, and first and second lateralsupports 18A, 18B connected to the stair assembly, as will be discussedfurther below.

The telescoping stair assembly 12 includes first through fourthtelescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D (sometimes referred to hereinindividually or collectively as telescoping assemblies 20 n). Each ofthe first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20Dincludes a corresponding generally tubular or annular outermost member22A, 22B, 22C, 22D (sometimes referred to herein individually orcollectively as the outermost members 22 n) having a first end andsecond end. Each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A,20B, 20C, 20D also includes a corresponding first telescoping member24A, 24B, 24C, 24D (sometimes referred to herein individually orcollectively as the first telescoping members 24 n) having a first endand a second end. The first end of each of the first telescoping members24A, 24B, 24C, 24D is telescopingly extendable from and retractable intoan interior region of the corresponding outermost member 20A, 20B, 20C,20D through the second end thereof. Each of the first telescopingmembers 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D may be a final telescoping member, that is, atelescoping member with no further telescoping member connected thereto.

As shown, each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A,20B, 20C, 20D may also include a corresponding second telescoping 26A,26B, 26C, 26D (sometimes referred to herein individually or collectivelyas the second telescoping members 26 n) having a first end and a secondend. The first end of each of the second telescoping members 26A, 26B,26C, 26D is telescopingly extendable from and retractable into aninterior region of the corresponding first telescoping member 24A, 24B,24C, 24D through the second end thereof. In embodiments including thesecond telescoping members 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, the second telescopingmembers may be final telescoping members.

Also, as shown, each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies20A, 20B, 20C, 20D may further include a corresponding third telescopingmember 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D (sometimes referred to herein individually orcollectively as the third telescoping members 28 n) having a first endand a second end. The first end of each of the third telescoping members28A, 28B, 28C, 28D is telescopingly extendable from and retractable intoan interior region of the corresponding second telescoping member 26A,26B, 26C, 26D through the second end thereof. In embodiments includingthe third telescoping members 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, the third telescopingmembers may be final telescoping members.

Further, as shown, each of the first through fourth telescopingassemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D may also include a corresponding fourthtelescoping member 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D (sometimes referred to hereinindividually or collectively as the fourth telescoping members 30 n)having a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the fourthtelescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D is telescopingly extendable fromand retractable into an interior region of the corresponding thirdtelescoping member 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D through the second end thereof. Inembodiments including the fourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D,the fourth telescoping members may be final telescoping members. In theembodiment shown, the fourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, arefinal telescoping members.

In other embodiments, each of the first through fourth telescopingassemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D may include one or more additionalcorresponding telescoping members extendable from the second ends of thefourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D (and subsequenttelescoping members) in a similar manner.

Each of the foregoing telescoping members (for example, the firsttelescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) except the final telescopingmembers typically would be generally tubular or annular to permit anysubsequent telescoping members (for example, the second telescopingmembers 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D) to be receivable therein, as discussedabove. The final telescoping members (for example, the fourthtelescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) may be, but need not be,generally tubular or annular.

Any of the members 22 n, 24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n and any subsequentmembers (not shown) receiving another of the members 24 n, 26 n, 28 n,30 n and any subsequent members (not shown) may be referred to herein asa receiving member. Any of the members 24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n and anysubsequent members (not shown) received by another of the members 22 n,24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n and any subsequent members (not shown) may bereferred to herein as a received member.

Any or all of the receiving members (for example, any or all of theoutermost members 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, or any or all of the firsttelescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) may define or otherwise includea corresponding stop 32 configured to limit the extension travel of thecorresponding received member (for example, the corresponding one(s) ofthe first telescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D or the secondtelescoping members 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D) received therein. The finaltelescoping members (for example, the fourth telescoping members 30 n inthe embodiment shown) may, but need not, include or define a stop 32.Any or all of the stops 32 may be defined by crimping the correspondingreceiving member as shown, so that a corresponding portion of the walldefining the receiving member extends inwardly into the interior regionof the receiving member. Alternatively, any or all of the stops 32 couldbe embodied as an interfering structure extending inwardly into theinterior region of the receiving member from an inner surface thereof.Any such stop 32 may be located at any desired point of the respectivemember 22 n, 24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n between the first end and the secondend thereof. In an embodiment, any such stop 32 may be located betweenthe midpoint and the second end of the respective member 22 n, 24 n, 26n, 28 n, 30 n. For example, as shown, any such stop 32 may be locatedbetween the midpoint and the second end of the respective member 22 n,24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n, nearer to the midpoint than to the second endthereof.

Also, any or all of the received members may define or otherwise includea corresponding boss 34 configured to interfere with the stop 32 of thecorresponding receiving member. Any or all of the bosses 34 may bedefined as an outwardly flared portion of the received member, as shown,or embodied as a structure connected to and extending outwardly from thesurface of the wall defining the received member.

The outermost member 22C of the third telescoping assembly 20C isfixedly connected to the outermost member 20A of the first telescopingassembly 20A, for example, by first and second standoffs 36, 38, so thatthe third telescoping assembly 20C and its constituent members 22C, 24C,26C, 28C, 30C are spaced from and parallel to connected to the firsttelescoping assembly 20A and its constituent members 22A, 24A, 26A, 28A,30A. Similarly, the outermost member 22D of the fourth telescopingassembly 20D is fixedly connected to the outermost member 20B of thesecond telescoping assembly 20B, for example, by third and fourthstandoffs 40, 42 so that the fourth telescoping assembly 20D and itsconstituent members 22D, 24D, 26D, 28D, 30D are spaced from and parallelto connected to the second telescoping assembly 20B and its constituentmembers 22B, 24B, 26B, 28B, 30B.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cable 44 may be attached to the fourth telescopingmember 30 n (or other final telescoping member) of any of thetelescoping assemblies 20 n and routed through the interior regionthereof, the interior region of the outermost member 22 n of thetelescoping assembly 20 n, the interior regions of any interveningtelescoping members (the first, second, and third telescoping members 24n, 26 n, 28 n in the embodiment shown), and outwardly from the outermostmember 22 n through an aperture 47 defined thereby. As shown, the cable44 is associated with the third telescoping assembly 20C in theforegoing manner. In other embodiments, the cable 44 could be associatedwith any or all other ones of the telescoping members 20 n in theforegoing manner. A cable clamp or other structure (not shown) may beprovided to selectively secure the free end or other portion of eachsuch cable 44.

A first step 22E is connected to the respective outermost members 22 nof the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20 n proximate themounting base 14, as will be discussed further below. The first step 22Emay be directly connected to the outermost members 22 n, or it may beconnected thereto through one or more intervening structures, forexample, a first support rod (not shown) extending between the first andsecond telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B and a second support rod (notshown) extending between the third and fourth telescoping assemblies20C, 20D.

A second step 22E′ is connected to the respective outermost members 22 nof the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20 n proximate thesecond ends thereof. The second step 22E′ may be directly connected tothe outermost members 22 n in a manner similar to that in which thefirst step 22E is connected to the outermost members or otherwise.

A third step 24E may be similarly connected to the respective firsttelescoping members 24 n of the first through fourth telescopingassemblies 20 n; a fourth step 26E may be similarly connected to therespective second telescoping members 26 n of the first through fourthtelescoping assemblies 20 n; a fifth step 28E may be similarly connectedto the respective third telescoping members 28 n of the first throughfourth telescoping assemblies 20 n; and a sixth step 30E may besimilarly connected to the respective fourth telescoping members 30 n ofthe first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20 n.

The first and second telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B cooperate to definea first plane, and the third and fourth telescoping assemblies 20C, 20Dcooperate to define a second plane generally parallel to the firstplane. Each of the steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E defines acorresponding stepping surface, and each of the stepping surfacesdefines a corresponding plane. The steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30Eare connected to the corresponding telescoping assemblies 20 n so thatthe planes defined by the steps are parallel to each other. In anembodiment, the steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E are connected to thecorresponding telescoping assemblies 20 n so that the first and secondplanes defined by the telescoping assemblies 20 n are inclined at anangle α of about 50 degrees with respect to planes defined by the steps.In other embodiments, the angle α may vary from about 10 degrees toabout 60 degrees.

As suggested above, the stair assembly 12 is connected to a mountingbase 14 configured for connection to a boat, for example, to a deck of apontoon boat, or to a swim platform connected to a boat. As shown, themounting base 14 includes a first elongated base member 14A connected toand extending from the first telescoping assembly 20A, and a secondelongated base member 14B connected to and extending from the firsttelescoping assembly 20B, for example, proximate the first step 22E.Each of the first and second base members 14A, 14B extends from thecorresponding telescoping assembly 20A, 20B generally parallel to theplanes defined by the steps 22E, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E. The first andsecond base members 14A, 14B may be parallel to each other.

The mounting base 14 may include a first mounting bracket 14C connectedto the first base member 14A near the free end thereof, and a secondmounting bracket 14D connected to the second base member 14B near thefree end thereof. The mounting base 14 may also include a third mountingbracket 14E having a first end connected to the first base member 14Anear the end thereof connected to the first telescoping assembly 20A,and a second end connected to the second base member 14B near the endthereof connected to the second telescoping assembly 20B. Alternatively,the third mounting brackets could be embodied as a third mountingbracket connected to the first base member 14A near the end thereofconnected to the first telescoping assembly 20A and a separate fourthmounting bracket connected to the second base member 14B near the endthereof connected to the second telescoping assembly 20B. Each of theforegoing mounting brackets may define one or more aperturestherethrough configured to receive a mechanical fastener for securingthe mounting brackets and, thereby, the ladder 10, to the deck or otherportion of a boat or swim platform.

In an embodiment, the mounting base 14 could be pivotably mounted to thedeck D or otherwise to the boat B.

The first hand rail 16A is shown as a tubular or cylindrical memberconnected at a first end to the outermost member 22C of the thirdtelescoping assembly 20C, and near a second end to the first base member14A via an intervening first strut 16C. Similarly, the second hand rail16B is shown as being connected at a first end to the outermost member22D of the fourth telescoping assembly 20D, and near a second end to thesecond base member 14B via an intervening second strut 16D.

The first lateral support 18A is shown as an elongated member having afirst end connected to the outermost member 22A of the first telescopingassembly 20A and a free end configured for abutment with a portion ofthe boat B, for example, an end of pontoon of a pontoon boat. As such,the free end of the first lateral support 18A may be provided with anend cap 19 made of or faced with a material selected to preclude orinhibit damage to the portion of the boat B while in abutment therewith.The first lateral support 18A may be embodied, as shown, as atelescoping assembly, for example, an assembly having an outer tube andan inner tube extendable from and retractable into the outer tube. Theinner and outer tubes may define corresponding apertures configured foralignment with each other with the inner and outer tubes set a variousoverall lengths. A pin may be extended through corresponding ones of theapertures to pin the inner tube to the outer tube at a desired overalllength. The second lateral support 18B may be configured in a similarmanner and connected to the outermost member 22B of the secondtelescoping assembly 20B in a similar manner. The first and secondlateral supports 18A, 18B may be oriented so that they lie in a planeparallel to the planes defined by the steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E,30E. The first and second lateral supports 18A, 18B also may be orientedso that they are generally perpendicular to the portion of the boat theyabut when in abutment therewith.

In use, the ladder 10 may connected to the deck D of the pontoon boat B.For example, the mounting brackets 14C, 14D, 14E may be placed inabutment with the deck D and the ladder may be secured thereto usingfasteners inserted through the apertures defined by the brackets anddriven into the deck. The lengths of the first and second lateralsupports 18A, 18B, if adjustable, may be adjusted so that the free endsof the first and second lateral supports or end caps thereon may abut ornearly abut an adjacent portion of the boat B when the ladder 10 isunloaded, that is, when it is not supporting a user. The adjacentportion of the boat B may be, as shown, an aft end of a pontoon P. Inthe event the free ends or end caps of the first and second lateralsupports 18A, 18B do not abut the adjacent portion of the boat B whenthe ladder 10 is unloaded, they may be located so that they becomeabutted with the adjacent portion of the boat when the ladder becomesloaded, that is, when it is supporting a user, with little rotation orpivoting or flexing of the outermost members 22 n of the telescopingassemblies 22 n with respect to the mounting base 14.

The ladder 10 may be placed into a deployed configuration from a stowedconfiguration by releasing the free end of the cable 44, therebyallowing the various telescoping members 24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n toextend from the members 22 n, 24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n within which theyare received. The various telescoping members 24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n mayextend from the members 22 n, 24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n within which theyare received under their own weight. If the various telescoping members24 n, 26 n, 28 n, 30 n do not extend from the members 22 n, 24 n, 26 n,28 n, 30 n within which they are received under their own weight, a usermay pull any of the members or steps connected thereto to extend themfrom the members within which they are received. In the deployedconfiguration, at least one of the steps 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E may be belowthe waterline. With the ladder 10 in the deployed configuration, a user,for example, a human or a dog, may climb the ladder.

The ladder 10 may be placed in a stowed configuration from a deployedconfiguration by pulling on the cable(s) 44, thereby drawing the finaltelescoping members toward and into the outermost members and anyintervening telescoping members. With the telescoping members fullyreceived within the corresponding receiving members (or in any state ofpartial retraction), the free end (or intermediate portion) of the cable44 may be secured, thereby securing the ladder 10 in the stowedconfiguration.

The ladder 10 has been described and illustrated alone and in connectionwith a pontoon boat B. The ladder 10 also could be used in connectionwith a dock, a floating swim platform, a swim platform connected to aboat, or another structure disposed upon, disposable upon, or adjacent abody of water. The mounting base 14 could readily be modified to enableuse of the ladder 10 with another form of boat, for example, aspeedboat.

The embodiment disclose herein are illustrative and should not beconstrued to limit the scope of the appended claims.

1. A marine boarding ladder comprising: a base configured for connectionto a boat; a stair assembly comprising: a first telescoping assemblyhaving a corresponding outermost member connected to the base; a secondtelescoping assembly having a corresponding outermost member connectedto the base, the second telescoping assembly spaced from and parallel tothe first telescoping assembly; a third telescoping assembly having acorresponding outermost member connected to the outermost member of thefirst telescoping assembly, the third telescoping assembly spaced fromand parallel to the first telescoping assembly and the secondtelescoping assembly; and a fourth telescoping assembly having acorresponding outermost member connected to the outermost member of thesecond telescoping assembly, the fourth telescoping assembly spaced fromand parallel to the first telescoping assembly, the second telescopingassembly, and the third telescoping assembly; the outermost member ofeach of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblieshaving a first end and a second end; each of the first, second, third,and fourth telescoping assemblies further having a corresponding firsttelescoping member disposed within and telescopingly extendable from andretractable into the corresponding outermost member through the secondend thereof; a first step connected to the outermost member of each ofthe first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies; a secondstep connected to the first telescoping members of each of the first,second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies; and at least onelateral stair support connected to the stair assembly and engagable withthe boat.
 2. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1 wherein the at leastone lateral stair support comprises a first lateral stair supportconnected to the outer tube of the first telescoping assembly.
 3. Themarine boarding ladder of claim 2 wherein the at least one lateralsupport comprises a second lateral stair support connected to the outertube of the second telescoping assembly.
 4. The marine boarding ladderof claim 2 wherein the at least one lateral stair support has atelescopically-adjustable length.
 5. The marine boarding ladder of claim1 further comprising a handrail connected to the base and to the stairassembly.
 6. The marine boarding ladder of claim 5 wherein the handrailis connected to the base and to the outer tube of one of the thirdtelescoping assembly and the fourth telescoping assembly.
 7. The marineboarding ladder of claim 6 further comprising a second handrailconnected to the base and to the outer tube of the other of the thirdtelescoping assembly and the fourth telescoping assembly.
 8. The marineboarding ladder of claim 1, each of the first, second, third, and fourthtelescoping assemblies further comprising a second telescoping membertelescopingly extendable from and retractable into said firsttelescoping member; the marine boarding ladder further comprising athird step connected to the second telescoping member of each of thefirst, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies.
 9. The marineboarding ladder of claim 1, the first telescoping member of one or moreof the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assembliescomprising a stop located nearer the midpoint than the second endthereof, the stop configured to limit extension of the secondtelescoping member of the one or more of the first, second, third, andfourth telescoping assemblies therefrom.
 10. The marine boarding ladderof claim 1 wherein the first step is connected to the outer tubes of thefirst and second telescoping assemblies or to the outer tubes of thethird and fourth telescoping assemblies through an intervening stepsupport.
 11. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1 further comprising alanyard disposed within and extending from the outermost tube of one ofthe first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies, andconnected to the first telescoping member of the one of the first,second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies or to a furthertelescoping member disposed within and extendable from the firsttelescoping member.
 12. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1, theoutermost member of one or more of the first, second, third, and fourthtelescoping assemblies comprising a stop located intermediate the firstend and the second end thereof, the stop configured to limit extensionof the first telescoping member of the one or more of the first, second,third, and fourth telescoping assemblies therefrom.
 13. The marineboarding ladder of claim 12, the stop located nearer the midpoint thanthe second end of the outermost member of one or more of the first,second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies.
 14. The marineboarding ladder of claim 12, the first end of the first telescopingmember of the assembly one or more of the first, second, third, andfourth telescoping assemblies comprising a boss configured to interferewith the stop.